Self-aligning bearing



May 14, 1935. E. A. FREED SELF ALIGNING BEARING Filed June 2, 1934lI/l/Aalllrlllllllllllllfrll R m N m m h M M VIII/9% Patented May 14,1935 UNITEDJST TES PATENT O FFlc E" t 2 -=j f?s F-m:l;i BEARiNG' Vlidward'A. Freed, Moline,'Ill.

Application June 2, 1934, SiialNo.

j; 'is'olai s. (01. 308-72) My present invention.- relatestoshaft'bearings and particularly to the selfaligning type, in which thebearing sleeve is formed separate from the rest of the structure andissupported 5. in such a manner thatrthe sleeve of one bear ing isautomatically adjusted by the shaft, into alignment with the sleeve ofthe opposite bearmg. 5 V

The principal object of my invention is to provide a selfaligningbearing of this kind-in which the bearing sleeve. is easily adjustedinto the aligned position, and firmly supported in any position in whichit is adjusted. q

A further object is to provide a bearing structure of this nature whichis economical to man-.

ufacture, eflicient in operation, and strong and otherwise adapted forthe purpose for which it isintended. v

Other objects and advantages of my invention willbe apparent tothoseskilled in the art after a consideration of the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompany drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the outer side of the bearingstructure;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the inner side of the bearing takensubstantially on the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane of line 4-4of Figure 2; and,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 55 of Figure 1.

The bearing structure includes a supporting bracket 8 and a bearingsleeve 9. The bracket 8 comprises a base member H which is adapted to besecured in place by bolts or similar securing means which are projectedthru holes I2 provided in member A vertical web or flange I3 is formedintegral with base member II and extends upwardly therefrom diverginginto a yoke l4 having an arcuate bearing portion I 5. The bearingportion I5 is beveled on the inner side as shown at I6 in Figure 5, fora purpose to be later described.

The bearing sleeve 9 comprises a cylindrical member 2|, the outer,surface of which is. tapered. A longitudinal opening is provided thrumember 2| to receive a bearing bushing 22, preferably of the oilite typeor similar construction which is adapted to journally support a shaft23. A pair of vertically diametrically opposed lugs 24 are formed on thesmaller end of member 2| and engage against cam portions 25 formed on aretaining ring 26.

against the tension of manner supplying a film The ring 26 issubstantially. diamond shaped v having an opening'of similar formation,and an aperture 21 is provided adjacent eachendthereof to receivecompression springs 28 which also project into-similar apertures 29formed in yoke 5 I4 opposite the .apertures 2 The ring 26 is' disposedaround-sleeve member 2| between the lugs 24 .and yoke M and is yieldablyheld against lugs 24 by the springs 28. Thering 26-pressing against lugs24 urges bearing-sleeve 9 out- 10 wardlyuntil the tapered outer surfaceof member.2| comes into'engagement-with the arcuate bearing portion l5of yoke 14. a The bearing sleeve 9 is adjusted'in any direction; toalign with the bearing sleeve of the, opposite bearing 15 structure, byshaft 23 The sleeve 9 is adjusted springs 28 ,which hold the member 2|in-engagement with, arcuate portion |,5 of yoke M in any adjustment ofsleeve 9.

A lubricant, reservoir 3 comprising a tube-like I 20 receptacle isformed on theupper side of member 2| and extends upwardly therefrom. Alubricant is forced into reservoir 3| with an alemite grease gun thru analemite fitting 32 fixed in the top of reservoir 3|. The structure ofthe oil- 25 ite bushing 22 is of a porous nature and the lubricantpasses thru the bushing in an even of oil between the bushing 22 andshaft 23.

In assembling the bearing structure, the sleeve 30 9 is extendedoutwardly thru yoke 14 until the tapered surface of member 2| engagesthe arcuate bearing portion l5 of yoke I4. The retaining ring 26 is thenslippedover the end of member 2| in a vertical manner, that is, so thatthe 5 ends of ring 26 are in vertical alignment with the lugs 24. Afterring 26 has been advanced beyond lugs 24 it is rotated a quater turn ineither direction so that the cam portions 25 come into engagement withlugs 24 and the 40 springs 28 which are projecting outwardly fromapertures 29 engage in the apertures 21 in the retaining ring 26. Whensprings 28 are seated in the apertures 21 and 29, they serve as lookingelements to prevent the retaining ring 26 45 from rotating in eitherdirection, thereby looking the bracket 8 andbearing sleeve 9 inassembled relation. To remove bearing sleeve 9 from bracket 8, springs26 are removed from either of the apertures 21 or 29 by forcing apointed tool or key behind the end of spring 28 and exerting a pryingforce thereon. After one end of each of the springs 28 has been removedg from the adjacent aperture the ring 26 may be rotated a quater turnand drawn over the end of cylindrical member 2| .justment of the bearingsleeve 9, thereby per- 1 porting bracket,-- a' yoke a beveledsurfacearound the, edge of said yoke on one face thereof, a tapered bearingsleeve of member 2| thereby unlocking sleeve 9 from bracket 8 to permitremoval thereof. The bearing sleeve 9 of one bearing structureis'adjusted into axial alignment with the sleeve of the opposite bearingstructure by shaft 23 passing thru both sleeves. The bevel IS ontheinner side of yoke l4 provides clearance for the large end to swinginto any admitting .the sleeve to; be easily adjustedinto properalignment by the shaft 23.': Ini'any sadjusted position of sleeve 9,member 2! is held in contact with the arcuate bearing portion 15' by thesprings 28, which are constantly urging sleeve 9 outwardly.

this invention in more or less d t il, it willbe apparent that variousadditionsj'omissionsand substitutions can be parting from the spirit ofthis invention or the scope of'the appended claims 'What I'claim;'therefore an by Letters Patent-is? r "1. A self aligning bearingcomprising a supporting bracket, ayoke'formed on said bracket, a beveledsurface around the edge 'of' saidyoke on one face thereof, atapered-bearing sleeve supported in'said yoke and engaging said beveledsurfacejandresilient connecting means betweensaid -sleeve and said yoke,whereby said sleeve is held in yielding engagement with said yoke-in anyposition in which said sleeve is adjusted relative tosaid-yoke.

2. A self aligning bearmg comprising a sup} formed on said bracket,

supported in said yoke and engaging said beveled surface, a pair ofdiametrically" disposed lugs projecting from said sleeve adjacent thesmaller made therein without ;de-

, port d -desi're to secure end thereof, a retaining ring disposedaround said sleeve between said yoke and said lugs and contacting, withsaid lugs, and resilient means between said yoke and said retainingring, whereby said sleeve is held in yielding engagement with said yokeinany position in which said sleeve is adjusted relative to said yoke.

3.A'self aligning bearing, comprising a supporting member, an opening insaid supporting membena beveled; surface around said opening, 10 abearing sleeve supported in saidopening, and resilient connecting meansdisposed between [and engagingwith said bearing sleeve and said,supportingniember, whereby said bearing sleeve p is held in yieldingengagement with said sup- 15 Although I have described a specificjormofjc q ing member in any .position in which said sleeve is adjustedrelative to-said supporting i" member.

4, A. self; aligning'rbearing comprising a suping'bracket, a yoke formedon said bracket, a beveled surface around the edge 'of said yoke on oneface thereof, a bearing sleev'esupported by said 'yokeand engaging saidbeveled: surface, and resilient connecting meansbetween said. sleeveandsaid; yoke, whereby said sleeve ..is.held' in yielding engagementwith said yokeimany position in which said-"sleeve is' adjusted relativeto said yoke; a =5. A selfaligning bearing comprising a supportingbracket, bracket; a 'bearing' member supported; by said yoke, a beveled,surface around;the edge of one of said members, and resilientmeansdisposed between and connecting with said yoke, member and saidbearing member, ,whereby said .bearv eswmb A.

a yoke member formed on said 30

